Shawn Baker wrote: <SNIP>>>>>>Assuming the kayak's weight is spread evenly along its length, if the bow is on the rack exactly at the boat's 'quarter point' (1/4 the length of the kayak back from the bow), you would be lifting half the weight of the kayak, or 28 lbs., if you're lifting at the stern quarter point. If you're holding the extreme stern of the kayak, maybe your grab handle, and the bow is over the rack at the quarter point, then you'll be lifting with a force of 33.6 lbs, and the rack will be supporting 22.4 lbs.<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I agree with the first paragraph but not with the second. Could you explain how you arrived at your result? As I see it the paddler will only be supporting one quarter of the weight, 14 pounds. This assumes, as you did that the kayak is level and evenly distributed. If you are picking the stern up from the ground you will be lifting more than a quarter of the weight (depending on the kayaks angle). For instance, if the bow were straight up you would again be lifting all the 56 pounds from the stern. If one end was supported by the bar you would be holding half the weight. If the bar was in the middle of the kayak the bar would be supporting all the weight. With the bar one quarter along the boat you would be holding half of the half you were holding when the rack was at one end. One quarter of the weight. At first I thought the rack will be supporting the entirety of the bow quarter weight and one-half of the three quarters that is left. That calculation would leave the paddler supporting 3/8 of the weight. 56/4=14, 56-14=42, 42/2=21 pounds. Then I realized that the weight of the bow over the fulcrum of the rack would also be supporting another quarter of that kayak's weight due to the leverage. The last half of the weight would then be shared between the rack and the paddler. My original calculation would be correct if the bow was sawed completely off at the bar but not if the overhanging weight of the attached bow was levering up part of the rest of the weight. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Mar 08 2003 - 18:21:29 PST
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